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13 Magnific Magnification at Locri Epizephyrii: An Insight into the Surface of Western Red-figured Vases

  • Diego Elia , Patrizia Davit , Alessandro Re and Monica Gulmini
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Technology, Crafting and Artisanal Networks in the Greek and Roman World
This chapter is in the book Technology, Crafting and Artisanal Networks in the Greek and Roman World

Abstract

Recent studies on the red-figured pottery found at Locri Epizephyrii have led to an in-depth knowledge of the local production and the characteristics of the Locrian workshops (the Locri Group, the Kneeling Eros Painter, the Painter of the Pyxis RC 5089) between 390 and 340 B.C. In recent years, attention has been focused on the surface of these figured vases, with the aim of developing suitable procedures to support the archaeologist’s naked-eye examination in the detection of micromorphological features that can shed light on the techniques, manufacturing practices, gestures and tools used by ancient artisans. A project has been launched to develop the methodological approach by examining a selection of figured vases and fragments belonging to the Locrian production using several instrumental techniques, namely reflectance transformation imaging, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry and confocal optical profilometry. Results have shown that this approach makes it possible to obtain a more detailed picture of the characteristics of the miltos and black gloss, the stratigraphy of the contour and relief-lines, the strategy in the preliminary sketch and in the drawing sequence, and the use of overpainted decorations. The analytical approach presented has great potential in the observation and study of the traces left on the surfaces by the coating and decoration processes and it has shed further light on some of the techniques and procedures used by the Locrian painters.

Abstract

Recent studies on the red-figured pottery found at Locri Epizephyrii have led to an in-depth knowledge of the local production and the characteristics of the Locrian workshops (the Locri Group, the Kneeling Eros Painter, the Painter of the Pyxis RC 5089) between 390 and 340 B.C. In recent years, attention has been focused on the surface of these figured vases, with the aim of developing suitable procedures to support the archaeologist’s naked-eye examination in the detection of micromorphological features that can shed light on the techniques, manufacturing practices, gestures and tools used by ancient artisans. A project has been launched to develop the methodological approach by examining a selection of figured vases and fragments belonging to the Locrian production using several instrumental techniques, namely reflectance transformation imaging, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry and confocal optical profilometry. Results have shown that this approach makes it possible to obtain a more detailed picture of the characteristics of the miltos and black gloss, the stratigraphy of the contour and relief-lines, the strategy in the preliminary sketch and in the drawing sequence, and the use of overpainted decorations. The analytical approach presented has great potential in the observation and study of the traces left on the surfaces by the coating and decoration processes and it has shed further light on some of the techniques and procedures used by the Locrian painters.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgements V
  3. Editorial Board VI
  4. Contents VII
  5. Introduction
  6. 1 The A.G.A.T.H.O.C.L.E.S. Project and Beyond: Archaeology of Gesture and Material Consciousness in Ceramic Studies 1
  7. Section I: The Shapes of Clay: Manufacturing and Local Traditions
  8. 2 What Makes Aeginetan Cooking Pots So Special? Technological Choices in Ancient Aegina’s Pottery Production 13
  9. 3 Production Relationships between Attic Black-glazed and Figured Pottery 25
  10. 4 Potters in South Italian Red-Figured Workshops: An Overview 35
  11. 5 Clay Crafting, Hand Modeling: A Coroplastic Perspective. Case-Studies from Sicily and Magna Graecia 49
  12. 6 The Manufacture of “Thickened-edge” Roof Tiles between Unintentional Traces and Intentional Marks: The Case of the Hellenistic-Roman Temple in Agrigento 69
  13. 7 Teanum Ware Pottery from Loc. Cappella Marcella (Castrocielo, Frosinone) 79
  14. Section II: Populating the Ancient Pottery Industry
  15. 8 Timing Euxitheos and Euphronios: Energetics and the Scale of Production in the Athenian Potters’ Quarters 91
  16. 9 Reconstructing the Scale of Athenian Vase-Painting Workshops 111
  17. 10 Potters’ Tools at the Kerameikos of Selinous 125
  18. 11 Pottery Production in Pompeii, Step by Step: From Excavations to Experimental Archaeology 133
  19. 12 Republican Kilns at Pollentia-Urbs Salvia: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study of a Local Ceramic Production 147
  20. Section III: Workshop Recipies and Craft Production Systems: Technologies Magnified
  21. 13 Magnific Magnification at Locri Epizephyrii: An Insight into the Surface of Western Red-figured Vases 157
  22. 14 Examining the Red and Black Surfaces of Apulian Red-figured Pottery: Raw Materials and Technological Features 173
  23. 15 Reconstructing Pottery Production in Archaic Rome and Latium: Integrating Traditional Approach and Archaeometry 183
  24. 16 Black-glazed Pottery from Locri Epizephyrii: New Evidence from the Technological Study of the Local Hellenistic Production 193
  25. 17 Roof Tiles with the ΣΩΣΗΝΟΣ Stamp: Calabrian Production in Sicily 199
  26. 18 Preliminary Observations on the Interdisciplinary Project of Roman Amphorae from the Territory of Ostia 207
  27. 19 A True Melting Pot: The Production of Cooking Ware at Fregellae, Southern Lazio (Italy), between the 4th and the 2nd Centuries B.C. 213
  28. Section IV: From Invisible to Visible: Artisanal Gestures, Ontologies, and Ceramic Networks
  29. 20 From Micro to Macro and Vice Versa: Technology Studies and Network Analysis on Red-figured Vase Production between Sicily and Campania 223
  30. 21 The Craft of Centuripe Vases: Techniques, Colors, Patterns 241
  31. 22 Kerameikos.org and Digital Accessibility for Ancient Greek Vases 255
  32. 23 New Perspectives in the Study of Western Greek Amphorae 269
  33. 24 Economic Principles in the Roman Economy: Modelling Mass Ceramic Production and Trade 285
  34. 25 Looking for the Lost Decoration of an Apulian Volute Krater by the Painter of Sèvres 1 303
  35. Section V: Craftspeople’s Mobility and Knowledge Transfer: Distribution and Statistics
  36. 26 Technology Transfer and Mobility During the Period of Greek Migrations to Italy (8th to 6th Centuries B.C.): Insights from Coarse ware Pottery 313
  37. 27 Regional Markets and Distribution Patterns of Laconian Pottery in Crete and Beyond: The Aeginetan Hypothesis (6th–5th Centuries B.C.) 327
  38. 28 Consumers and Vases in Early South Italian Vase-Painting 347
  39. 29 Hybridity and Exchange Models in Campania: The Case of Ionian Cups from Ancient Cumae 357
  40. 30 East Greek Inspirations on Attic Black-figured Pottery: The Implications for Clients and Trade Networks 365
  41. Epilogue
  42. 31 Greek and Roman Ceramic Producers: Operational Knowledge and Networked Mobilities 373
  43. List of Contributors 381
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111189635-013

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgements V
  3. Editorial Board VI
  4. Contents VII
  5. Introduction
  6. 1 The A.G.A.T.H.O.C.L.E.S. Project and Beyond: Archaeology of Gesture and Material Consciousness in Ceramic Studies 1
  7. Section I: The Shapes of Clay: Manufacturing and Local Traditions
  8. 2 What Makes Aeginetan Cooking Pots So Special? Technological Choices in Ancient Aegina’s Pottery Production 13
  9. 3 Production Relationships between Attic Black-glazed and Figured Pottery 25
  10. 4 Potters in South Italian Red-Figured Workshops: An Overview 35
  11. 5 Clay Crafting, Hand Modeling: A Coroplastic Perspective. Case-Studies from Sicily and Magna Graecia 49
  12. 6 The Manufacture of “Thickened-edge” Roof Tiles between Unintentional Traces and Intentional Marks: The Case of the Hellenistic-Roman Temple in Agrigento 69
  13. 7 Teanum Ware Pottery from Loc. Cappella Marcella (Castrocielo, Frosinone) 79
  14. Section II: Populating the Ancient Pottery Industry
  15. 8 Timing Euxitheos and Euphronios: Energetics and the Scale of Production in the Athenian Potters’ Quarters 91
  16. 9 Reconstructing the Scale of Athenian Vase-Painting Workshops 111
  17. 10 Potters’ Tools at the Kerameikos of Selinous 125
  18. 11 Pottery Production in Pompeii, Step by Step: From Excavations to Experimental Archaeology 133
  19. 12 Republican Kilns at Pollentia-Urbs Salvia: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study of a Local Ceramic Production 147
  20. Section III: Workshop Recipies and Craft Production Systems: Technologies Magnified
  21. 13 Magnific Magnification at Locri Epizephyrii: An Insight into the Surface of Western Red-figured Vases 157
  22. 14 Examining the Red and Black Surfaces of Apulian Red-figured Pottery: Raw Materials and Technological Features 173
  23. 15 Reconstructing Pottery Production in Archaic Rome and Latium: Integrating Traditional Approach and Archaeometry 183
  24. 16 Black-glazed Pottery from Locri Epizephyrii: New Evidence from the Technological Study of the Local Hellenistic Production 193
  25. 17 Roof Tiles with the ΣΩΣΗΝΟΣ Stamp: Calabrian Production in Sicily 199
  26. 18 Preliminary Observations on the Interdisciplinary Project of Roman Amphorae from the Territory of Ostia 207
  27. 19 A True Melting Pot: The Production of Cooking Ware at Fregellae, Southern Lazio (Italy), between the 4th and the 2nd Centuries B.C. 213
  28. Section IV: From Invisible to Visible: Artisanal Gestures, Ontologies, and Ceramic Networks
  29. 20 From Micro to Macro and Vice Versa: Technology Studies and Network Analysis on Red-figured Vase Production between Sicily and Campania 223
  30. 21 The Craft of Centuripe Vases: Techniques, Colors, Patterns 241
  31. 22 Kerameikos.org and Digital Accessibility for Ancient Greek Vases 255
  32. 23 New Perspectives in the Study of Western Greek Amphorae 269
  33. 24 Economic Principles in the Roman Economy: Modelling Mass Ceramic Production and Trade 285
  34. 25 Looking for the Lost Decoration of an Apulian Volute Krater by the Painter of Sèvres 1 303
  35. Section V: Craftspeople’s Mobility and Knowledge Transfer: Distribution and Statistics
  36. 26 Technology Transfer and Mobility During the Period of Greek Migrations to Italy (8th to 6th Centuries B.C.): Insights from Coarse ware Pottery 313
  37. 27 Regional Markets and Distribution Patterns of Laconian Pottery in Crete and Beyond: The Aeginetan Hypothesis (6th–5th Centuries B.C.) 327
  38. 28 Consumers and Vases in Early South Italian Vase-Painting 347
  39. 29 Hybridity and Exchange Models in Campania: The Case of Ionian Cups from Ancient Cumae 357
  40. 30 East Greek Inspirations on Attic Black-figured Pottery: The Implications for Clients and Trade Networks 365
  41. Epilogue
  42. 31 Greek and Roman Ceramic Producers: Operational Knowledge and Networked Mobilities 373
  43. List of Contributors 381
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